R ARIVANANTHAM
Director-writer Bejoy Nambiar has not only written a multilayered script but has infused freshness in the telling and making of ‘Por’, an adrenaline pumping action film on campus violence. As a writer he has won the hearts of action flicks but it turned out to be a masala kichdi.
College romance and violence are new to the Tamil cinema. Drug abuse is rampant in the country. The director could have brought out the ill-effects of drug addiction so as to send a good message to the youngsters. Instead of doing so he has added politics, caste cauldron which do not go down well with the main story.
- Kalidas Jayaram’s energetic acting bordering on the grey from start to finish is praiseworthy
- Cinematography of Jimshi Khalid & Presley Oscar D’souza is the backbone of ‘Por’
- Priyank Prem Kumar has handled the editing exceptionally well
Prabhu (Arjun Das) is a drug abusing super senior medical student trying to clear his arrear project. Rishima (Sanchana Natarajan) is a senior and a drug peddler who is his best friend. Prabhu’s heart ticks for Gayathri (TJ Bhanu), a student activist who leads all the fights against the establishment. The entry of chocolate boy Yuva (Kalidas Jayaram) to woo the girls, including Rishima, foretells the romantic side of college life with fun and frolic.
As the plot thickens Yuva and Prabhu were portrayed as childhood enemies and the scar was never healed over the time. To avenge this, Yuva wows to annihilate Prabhu and inflict ten times the pain he suffered because of him. With this aim, Yuva meticulously moves the coins by befriending Rishima and Gayathri. To add new dimension to the film, there comes a politician’s daughter who aims to win the college elections with brutal force and muscle power.
Kalidas Jayaram’s energetic acting bordering on the grey from start to finish is praiseworthy. He has exuberated an almost animalistic rawness in his violence as well as swaying the women with his charm. There is also a vulnerable moment where he expresses his true feelings to Sanchana. Arjun Das with his unique baritone superseding his performance has put up a good show as Prabhu. His best scenes are when he shows his soft side to Bhanu. Sanchana Natarajan has grabbed with both hands the meaty role of the shady girl who slowly grows on the audience as a broken but likeable soul.
The production design is rich with every frame filled with extras and bustling activity that lends a certain level of authenticity.
Cinematography of Jimshi Khalid & Presley Oscar D’souza is the backbone of ‘Por’. Priyank Prem Kumar has handled the editing exceptionally well.
Cast
Arjun Das, Kalidas Jayaram, Tj Bhanu, Sanchana Natarajan
Crew
Direction: Bejoy Nambiar, Production: Bejoy Nambiar, Prabhu Antony, Music: Raj Chanana, Shivam Chanana, Sonal Chawla, Sonu Srivastava, Vivin Sachdeva, Cinematography: Jimshi Khalid & Presley Oscar D’souza and Editing: Priyank Prem Kumar
